Organizing Blog For Members

Socialists believe in solidarity. We know that an injury to one is an injury to all. And as organizers, we understand the importance of working together in coalition with diverse community groups. So how do we practice solidarity in our everyday lives and in our campaigns? This article shows how DSA local groups and individual members can be more effective allies — and make our groups more diverse as well.

DSA chapters can make real changes, in their communities and beyond. But we need to plan well to do that.

This handout lays out some tips to balance out your chapter's work. Here is a four pillar model to build community connections, support your organizing, and have fun too. Click the Download PDF icon on the left to download it.

Meetings are more productive — and more fun — when the conversation includes everyone. Respectful discussion guidelines are helpful for keeping things focused too. You can read these before meetings and forums. (We've sometimes asked for volunteers to read each one off.) This has been helpful at DSA and YDS meetings, especially when new people are present. We've also shared them with our coalition partners as a useful resource.

To put real democratic power into the hands of working people, we need to make our local groups accessible to everyone. Without support, parents may not be able to attend DSA meetings. Here are some ways to change that.

In these times, event safety is on many organizers' minds. DSA local groups have held peaceful actions across the country. But counter-demonstrators don't always respect that. Here are some guidelines to keep event participants safe. Click the Download PDF icon to the left to download this handout.

DSA was concerned to find out that the company that provides our website and online organizing infrastructure, NationBuilder, had as a client the Trump campaign and other right-wing candidates. Progressives built this kind of infrastructure and tools for digital organizing and we have now lost that organizing edge. We are moving to identify other options for a CMS/CRM. As an under-resourced, member funded organization, this move will take time for us to carry out, but it is an important statement for us to make.